Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 24, 1994 TAG: 9405250007
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
According to every lifestyle reporter from here to Hollywood, I wouldn't know a newspaper if I were wrapped in it, and my political views are spoon-fed to me by the folks at MTV. I am a whiner. I am unemployed, or I was graduated from college with a useless degree and am now sponging off my parents while I do time at a McJob.
But my worst offense is I don't care about what goes on around me. The only reason I know who Bill Clinton is, is that I voted for his wife.
Does this sound familiar? Yes. Is it correct? No.
Growing up during the 1980s, the Xers saw history being made. There's no way we'd miss the '90s.
When talking with friends, we are more likely to discuss health care, the spread of HIV, or the job market than the resurgence of bell-bottoms or the latest "Beavis and Butt-head" episode. The only thing that separates us from the sedate CNN crowd is that we are more likely to pay attention to issues that concern us directly. But that doesn't make us any less aware of current affairs.
As we move through college, we are also moving into an adult world. We approach the news as a tourist acquaints himself or herself with unfamiliar territory. Like any traveler, we stick to familiar roads - or issues - until we feel comfortable moving into foreign parts.
So as the media learn more about us, we learn more about the world around us. It's a rite of passage. Look for it on MTV.
Hey, if we can come into your world, you can visit ours, too.
LISA SCHMEISER
SENIOR
VIRGINIA TECH
by CNB